31 essential Michigan cider mills and orchards to visit this fall

By Metro Times editorial staff on Thu, Sep 10, 2020 at 4:31 pm

It's the most wonderful time of the year. That should be a song … oh wait. Well, for some of us, and by us, we mean Michiganders, fall is a holy time, and by holy we mean doughnuts, and by doughnuts we mean — well, you get the idea. It’s fall, y’all, and even if it’s not technically yet, nothing will stop us from adopting a cider and doughnuts diet until Thanksgiving, because this is a free country and nothing fills an aching void quite like autumnal treats. These metro Detroit-area family-friendly orchards, mills, and farms are open for business, all things considered, and they’re ready for the masked and hungry masses to feast upon their bounty.

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Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm

2621 S. Karsten Rd., Rogers City; 989-351-7868; mmmunchykrunchyapplefarm.com
This family-owned cider mill has everything from farm animals to corn mazes. Here you can enjoy an in-person bakery, wood fired pizza, and hard cider orders.

Photo via Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm/Facebook

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Alber Orchard & Cider Mill

13011 Bethel Church, Manchester; 734-428-9310; alberorchard.com
There’s an award-winning orchard and mill just 30 minutes from Ann Arbor and an hour away from Detroit that has more than 100 varieties of apples, including heirloom varieties. The quaint Alber Orchard & Cider Mill is nestled in Manchester and sells unpasteurized cider and invites guests to pick their own apples and pumpkins.

Photo via Alber Orchard & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Apple Charlies South Huron Orchards and Cider Mill

38035 S. Huron Rd., New Boston; 734-753-9380; facebook.com/apple-charlies-south-huron-orchards
Family-owned and operated Apple Charlie’s offers a cozy atmosphere with fall foods and U-pick apples. In addition to their shop offerings, Apple Charlie’s has hayrides, scenic ponds, and a petting zoo. Did we mention pie? There’s pie.

Photo via Apple Charlies South Huron Orchards/ Facebook

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Bennett's Orchard

5647 Consear Rd., Ottawa Lake; 734-854-2523; bennettsorchard.com
For more than 60 years Bennett’s Orchard has been active in growing fresh fruit and vegetables. They offer fresh-pressed cider and doughnuts, along with their farm-fresh eggs, hard cider, and baked goods.

Photo via Bennett's Orchard/Facebook

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Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill

17985 Armada Center Rd., Armada; 586-784-5343; blakefarms.com
Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill is home to an 800-acre working farm and more than 40 different apple varieties. The farm and orchard is home to a cider mill, Funland, tasting room, sunflower picking, and a hard cider facility.

Photo via Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Blake's Big Apple

71485 North Ave., Armada; 586-784-9710; blakefarms.com
At Blake's Big Apple there is something for the whole family. The farm offers everything from a Zombie Paintball experience to a thrilling wagon ride. Their shop offers hand-dipped caramel apples, kettle corn, doughnuts, and homemade fudge.

Photo via Blake's Big Apple/Facebook

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Brookwood Fruit Farm

7840 Bordman Rd., Romeo; 810-798-8312; brookwoodfruitfarm.com
Feeling fruity? Look no further than Brookwood Fruit Farm, a 5th generation family farm, which grows 50 varieties of cherries, tarts, apples, and peaches. The farm offers a unique experience with over 100 years of continued fruit farming.

Photo via Brookwood Fruit Farm/Facebook

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Dexter Cider Mill

3685 Central St., Dexter; 734-426-8531; dextercidermill.com
As the oldest operating cider mill in Michigan, the Dexter Cider Mill runs along the Huron River. Visitors can enjoy cider, caramel apples, doughnuts, and other classic fresh fall treats like bourbon barrel hard cider to-go.

Photo via The Dexter Cider Mill/Facebook

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Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill

1479 Ranch, Holly; 248-634-8981; diehlsorchard.com
For more than 60 years Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill has grown fresh produce. They’re known for their annual Ciderfest, which is slated for Saturday, Sept. 26 in 2020. The orchard also offers different activities such as a corn maze, hay ride, and pony rides.

Photo via Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Erie Orchards & Cider Mill

1235 Erie Rd., Erie; 734-848-4518; erieorchards.com
Erie Orchards offers more than 70 acres with 15,000 bushels of apples, as well as fresh blueberries and peaches. The orchard also offers wagon rides, a playground, and farm animals.

Photo via Erie Orchards & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill

61475 Silver Lake Rd., South Lyon; 248-437-0150; erwinorchards.com
This family-friendly farm offers a pick-your-own raspberry patch, apple orchard, and corn maze. The 200-acre farm grows apples, sweet cherries, raspberries, pumpkins, and asparagus.

Photo via Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill

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Franklin Cider Mill

7450 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Twp.; 248-626-2968; franklincidermill.com
The Franklin Cider Mill offers freshly pressed cider that’s not filtered and not pasteurized. The mill also offers honey, select cheeses, butters, and doughnuts.

Photo via Franklin Cider Mill

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Goodison Cider Mill

4295 Orion Rd., Rochester; 248-652-8450; goodisoncidermill.com
The Goodison Cider Mill offers old-fashioned apple pressing, making fresh cider for the entire season. The mill also offers breads, doughnuts, jams, and caramel apples.

Photo via Goodison Cider Mill

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Grainger's Orchard & Cider Mill

2588 Pinckney Rd., Howell; 517-242-3902; facebook.com/graingers-orchard-cider-mill
The Grainger's Orchard & Cider Mill offers that fuzzy fall feeling with their fresh cider and warm atmosphere. This mill offers family fun for everyone to enjoy.

Photo via Grainger's Orchard & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Hy's Cider Mill

6350 37 Mile Rd., Romeo; 810-798-3611; hyscidermill.com
Apples are the name of the game at Hy’s Cider Mill in Romeo. Enjoy hayrides, fresh cider, and 99 cents per pound U-pick apple opportunities. Don’t like doing it yourself? They’ve got apple pies, turnovers, and fresh baked apple bread.

Photo via Hy’s Cider Mill/Facebook

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Jollay Orchard Farms

1850 Friday Rd., Coloma; 269-438-3075; jollayorchards.com
This family-friendly farm has apple picking, hayrides, and fun. The Jollay Orchard Farms is home to the 7th generation of the Jollay family, who continue their family tradition of raising farm-fresh fruit.

Photo via Jollay Orchard Farms/Facebook

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Lesser Farms Orchard and Cider Mill

12651 Island Lake Rd., Dexter; 734-426-8009; facebook.com/lesser-farms-and-orchard
Family-owned and operated, Lesser Farms Orchard and Cider Mill is nothing less than a perfect place to get your autumn on, and that includes grabbing some cider, doughnuts, and pumpkins.

Photo via Lesser Farms ORchard and Cider Mills/Facebook

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Long’s Family Cider Mill

1540 E. Commerce Rd., Commerce Charter Twp.; 248-360-3774; longsorchard.com
Long’s Family Cider Mill has a variety of home-grown vegetables such as asparagus, peas, sweet corn, and garden vegetables. The farm also offers fun fall activities like apple picking and a pumpkin patch.

Photo via Long’s Family Cider Mill/Facebook

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Markillie Orchard

5200 N. Latson, Howell; 517-546-3485; markillieorchard.com
The Markillie Orchard offers a variety of different flavored doughnuts, with everything from pumpkin to cinnamon sugar. They’re known for their cider slush, but they also offer doughnuts, jams, jellies, salsa, and more.

Photo via Markillie Orchard/Facebook

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Big Red Apple Orchard

4900 W. 32 Mile Rd., Washington Twp.; 586-752-7888; facebook.com/bigredorchard
Pick your own fresh apples and pumpkins at Big Red Apple Orchard. You can enjoy the large vegetable selection and the extensive orchard while spending quality time with family and friends.

Photo via Big Red Apple Orchard/Facebook

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